"Disclosure of the requested information would strengthen public confidence in the credibility of the National Assembly and the integrity of the appropriations process, promote transparency in the management of public resources, and enable citizens to meaningfully scrutinise the exercise of parliamentary oversight."

"The requested records concern matters of exceptional public importance. They relate directly to the integrity of Nigeria’s budgetary and appropriations process, the lawful establishment and funding of public institutions, the expenditure of public funds, and the effectiveness of legislative oversight."

"The National Assembly has a clear obligation to disclose the requested information, particularly where there are credible allegations of governmental impropriety and possible misuse of public resources. The basic purpose of the Freedom of Information Act is to ensure an informed citizenry, enabling citizens to check corruption and hold public officials and institutions accountable."

"The United Nations Human Rights Committee has affirmed that Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party guarantees a right of access to information held by public bodies and requires governments to proactively place information of public interest in the public domain while responding promptly to requests for information."

"The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has consistently interpreted Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as requiring maximum disclosure of information held by public authorities and recognising access to information as fundamental to transparency, accountability, democratic governance and public participation."

"The internationally recognised Tshwane Principles on National Security and the Right to Information further provide that no public authority should be categorically exempt from disclosure obligations and recognise an overriding public interest in the disclosure of information concerning corruption, abuse of public office and the use of public funds."

"The Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act and Nigeria’s international legal obligations rest upon the fundamental principle that public institutions are accountable to the people and that citizens are entitled to information concerning the conduct of public affairs."

"The disclosure of the requested information and documents would advance these constitutional and statutory objectives by promoting openness, strengthening legislative accountability and enhancing public confidence in the management of public resources."

"According to widely reported allegations, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council was allocated over ₦1.3 billion [₦1,302,978,784] in the 2026 Appropriation Act."

"However, the Presidency has publicly denied that the body exists. In a statement issued on 1 July 2026, the Presidency stated that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council is a fictitious body that was never established by the Federal Government."